The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-23
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Is There a Native Trume7

Atlantic have something near thelf
equals or parallels on this side that 1t
is no more than logical to think that
we may have a native truffle, and not
ut all unreasonable or Improbable
that endeavors should be made to find
it. To be sure we hear that native
but inferior black truffl. has been
found in Western and Southwestern
Louisiana in the vicinity Of Opelousas.
in The Atlackapas country. and on the
Red river. in the neighborhood OF
Natchitochcs. That this should be the
chosen habitat of the native truttlc In
preference to regions farther east and
north is natural, because the truffle is
a production of warm. if not hot,
climates, and is rarely if ever found in
regions where there is any thing like
killing and continued frosls. And. be-
sides, though the mystery that shrouds
the reproduction of the truf1l. has
been mystery for thousand years,
: it is worth while to consider whether
the French emigrant Catholic fathers
of that region might not have brought.
unknown to them, Of course, the
mycclium of the truflle to the New
/ World. That it should have changed
in its character and, perhaps, lost
some of the excellence of the parent is
not surprising after two or three CEN
turtles of fighting for life in the New
World; nor is itsingular that it should
have fourishcd in the region of the
Red river for a hundred years without
being heard FROM But if there is
really native truffle it will probably.
if anywhere, be found in that wonder
fully richly endowed State, North
Carolina, the native trees and vege-
table productions of which are equal
10 any other half dozen States of the
Union.
In Perigord (France). L. Qucrey
and Angoumais. where the production
of trutfles is of much Importance, the
general belief is that there is an init
mate connection between it and the
pubescent or hairy oak. In the de-
partmcnts of Vaucluse and the Lower
Alps the same intimate relation be-
tween the two is recognized. but at the
same time Tie evergreen oak enjoys
like distinction. In the latter de-
partmcnt the lMbescent is called the
white oak, and there is considerable
close resemblance between our white
oak for the ono and our live oak
for the other. If it be established that
two species of osk favor the develop
ment of the truffle, and that in their
neighborhood and under their shelter
the most productive beds are found,
they arc far from being the only trees
that can claim that high reputation.
/ Forty other species of trees are believed
TO have direct influence on the pro-
duction. chief among which are the
elm, tilbert, three unnamed species of
oak, the ash, linn. birch and the three
common pines. In presence of these
facts it is probably true that the
variety of tree has little to do with the
propagation and production of the
tubcr beyond preparing the ground
for it.
After. trees, and there are no beds
of trutiles without trees, the pre-
dominant influence on truffle produc-
ton is limestone or calcareous soil.
Thus the trufflc beds of Perigord. Lie
Qucrey. ftc.. are on calcareous land of
jurassic formation, and the best beds
of the Southeast are situated on similar
lands. 1t is also worthy of remark
that til soil of the most renowned
beds contains carbonate of lime, sand,
clay. idle of iron, the phosphates and
certain .a1kalies. with triilc of Oh
ganic matter. The presence of lime
stone does not seem to have sensible
influence En- the quality of the truffle.
But the oxides of iron play an i'm
rortant pert and their presence is in
dispcnsabA TO its production and high
quality. 1t is certain that the best
'rl'fiies are gathered from soils colored
Iy scsquioxide or peroxide of iron.
Irutt1es are never found where
there is an impermeab!e soil or sub
soil. 1t is also observed that forests
where ,ru1fles are found have warm
southern exposure. The truffle is
never found in cool or cold climates.
nor in very hot ones The truffle beds
arc nearly always found on the clear
Tags on hillsides and on elevated Lowell
land; they are almost unknown in
valleys. BIT this is fact character
istic of truffi. beds: The disappear
ance of all species of vegetation on the
surface OF the ground where the
!rrtllcs are in the course of develop
ment; their absence during the time
the t"utlles occupy the land and the re-
appearance Of vegetation just as soon
as The trullles have given out" These
indications render it easy TO recognize
where the trrtila is to be found in
Continental Europe, and vii probably
be safe guide to follow in hunting
for it in clcarings Of tho forest and OF
the banks of the Rcd river in Louis
lana, in the openings on the hill-sitlcs
and pla'eans of southern aspect in
Middle and Southern North Carolina,
ard. we may safely add, on similar
soils in like situation in the mount
anous regions of South Carolina,
Georgia and Tennessee.